For History, Class Six children will study the rise and fall of Rome and the affect Greek and Roman culture had on European civilization up through the Middle Ages. Swartz says, “[These studies are] appropriate for the sixth grader [who] now stands like an ancient Roman, solidly on the earth, and craves facts and their relationship to one another. Now we study history in relation to space and will make a time line to show events unfolding in chronological order.”

Language arts tie into Roman times with the study of grammar and its roots in the ancient Roman language Latin. The students will also expand their world by studying World Geography and Foreign Language and culture. Singing and Orchestra, Handwork, Woodworking, Eurhythmy, Painting and Sports also continue to enrich and mold the daily curriculum for Class Six.

According to Swartz, Physicsbecomes the “introduction to laboratory science, and therefore provides a different experience from the natural science/natural history [studies from earlier grades]. No longer is it sufficient for the children to “take my word” about natural phenomena — now they must see it, feel it, and hear it for themselves!”

But Natural Sciences are still studied in the form Astronomy and Mineralogy. In this regard Swartz says: “’Natural Science’ divides in two in the sixth grade. Astronomy will draw our attention to heaven, and, as a counterbalance to such imaginative soaring, Mineralogy will draw us into the earth’s depths to view its many marvels. The skills that the sixth graders develop [in geometry] with compass and straight edge will be put to use again as we depict the arcs and circles that describe the paths of the stars in different quadrants of the sky.”

Geometry takes literal form through geometrical drawings with great focus on “neatness and accuracy.” A picture is worth a thousand words! Here is a beautiful example of the study of geometry in Class Six.

And finally, in addition to Geometry, Class Six students, as Swartz says, “…will begin reviewing the arithmetical concepts of earlier grades and honing … skills in the four operations, fractions, decimals and simple formula (area and perimeter of regular figures).”